2018 - William R. Riter Distinguished IT Education Service Award
William R. Riter is an Emeritus Associate Professor of Business at Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he served on the faculty from 1985 to 2016 — a tenure of more than three decades. He holds a B.S. from Cedarville University (1964) and an M.S. from the University of Illinois (1969), and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA, State of Illinois). Prior to his academic career at Cornerstone, he served as Vice President at CARS Information Systems (1981–1985) and as an Associate Professor of Accounting at Cedarville University (1965–1981).
Beyond the classroom, Riter made an enduring contribution to the IT education community through his long service to the Association of Information Technology Professionals (AITP). He served as Treasurer of the AITP West Michigan Chapter from 1999 through 2018 — nearly two decades of steady, behind-the-scenes leadership — and as Treasurer of AITP Region 5 from 2007 to 2015. His sustained commitment to connecting computing students with professional networks and industry opportunities made him a natural choice as the inaugural recipient of this award.
In recognition of his contributions, the award was subsequently renamed the William R. Riter Distinguished IT Education Service Award, beginning with the 2023 MWC3 Conference.